Uniform zone script KS2

uniform zone - key stage 2 Welcome pupils to the zone and remind them of your name.

Aims: In this zone you will be: • exploring why members of The Salvation Army wear uniform • looking at how The Salvation Army’s uniform has changed since Victorian times Introduction: Why wear a uniform? (5 minutes) Can anyone tell me why they think they wear a school uniform? Encourage pupils to discuss the question together. What other kinds of people wear a uniform?

People wear uniforms for lots of different reasons. On these cards are some of the different reasons a person might wear a uniform. Read through the cards then ask the

following questions:

F Which one do you think is most important?

F Which one do you think would be most important to a policeman?

F Which one would be most important for a footballer?

F Which one would be most important to a fire fighter?

F Which one would be most important to a soldier in the military army?

There are no right or wrong answers to these questions, but they should promote some discussion about the different reasons people wear uniform, and pupils should be encouraged to explain their choices.

Salvation Army uniform (5 minutes) The Salvation Army has a uniform too – do you think it’s unusual for a church to have a uniform? Do other churches and religions have a uniform? Do they have any special clothes which show that they belong to their religion? Allow time for pupils to share

their answers, either from personal experience, or recalling what they have seen or learnt before. Many religions show their beliefs and identity through what they wear.

Listen to this short story: ‘A bomb had gone off in the centre of town. Within minutes the police were at the scene and they cordoned off the whole area. Not long afterwards, members of The Salvation Army arrived, but they found that no one was allowed inside where the bomb had gone off. When the policeman on duty saw them he said, “Oh, come in, you’re very welcome, people need your help.” The Salvation Army was able to comfort people who were hurt and give out hot drinks to the victims and the fire fighters.’

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• How did the policeman know they were from The Salvation Army and had come to help?

• What could have happened if they hadn’t been wearing a uniform?

Members of The Salvation Army wear a uniform for lots of different reasons. It shows people that there is someone on hand to talk to or to provide help, someone they can trust, especially in an emergency like in the story. Even more than that, it is a symbol of our beliefs and commitment to God, and our promise to serve and love others. It is a way of showing we are really serious about what we believe and what we do.

Dressing-up activity (10-15 minutes) Now it’s time to explore some different kinds of Salvation Army uniforms – and it’s time for a bit of dressing up! Give out the uniforms and help pupils to try them on.

Ask the pupils how they feel in their uniforms or what they think of them. You can now use them as a visual aid as you share the following information and questions. Begin with the Victorian uniforms.

• When The Salvation Army first began in 1878, people decided they wanted to wear uniforms to show people that they were serious about their mission to tell others about God’s love and to fight against evil and poverty. These were the kind of uniforms they wore. They were similar to the style of clothes other people were wearing at the time.

• This may surprise you, but at first some people really didn’t like The Salvation Army. (For example, people who ran pubs were angry because lots of alcoholics were becoming members of The Salvation Army and they stopped drinking, so pub owners were making less money.) People often threw things at members of The Salvation Army as they marched down the street, like tomatoes and even sharp stones and rocks, so they had to wear something to protect their heads.

There was a cap for the men and a bonnet for the women. (Demonstrate by

asking one or more of the other pupils to throw the fake rocks at the pupil wearing the bonnet/cap.) Soon, people began to respect The Salvation Army, but the bonnet was still worn for a long time, although its shape changed.

• Why do you think the uniform changed to look like this, and then like this etc?

Point to some of the more modern uniforms. (It needed to be updated to fit in with the kind of clothes other people were wearing, so it wasn’t old-fashioned.)

The uniform today looks more like a modern suit, and there are also hoodies and T-shirts for people who prefer to look more informal.

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Apart from the Victorian uniforms (and stand-up collar uniforms etc) all of these outfits are worn by members of The Salvation Army today, even though they’re all different.

See how quickly you can answer these questions: F Which uniform(s) looks like it might be worn in different countries? How can you tell? Why do you think there are different Salvation Army uniforms for different countries? (People wear different uniforms in countries like India and Africa

because of the weather, and also to fit in with the type of clothes other people wear, but they still have the same symbols and often the same design.)

F Which uniform do you think would be the best one for helping in an emergency?

Why? (High visibility jacket - it’s very visible, has a large Red Shield and could be put

on over any outfit if you were in a hurry.)

F Which would be best for leading a church service, or a wedding or funeral? Why?

(Tunic - it’s formal, people will know you’re the minister and it shows God respect.)

F Which uniform would be best for talking to people living on the streets, late at night? (Hoody/hat – it’s warm, has a Red Shield and members won’t look out of

place talking to people living on the street.)

F Which one would you wear if you were helping to serve breakfast in a drop-in centre for homeless people? Why? (Polo shirt - it’s very practical, has a Red Shield

and can be washed easily).

F Which uniform do you think a child might wear? (Polo-shirt/jumper – it’s designed

especially for children.)

Pupils can take the uniforms off now.

Art & design activity (10+ minutes)

Choose from the following activities: • Design a new Salvation Army uniform for the future (in pupil book/activity sheet) • Make a Victorian bonnet or cap (see instruction sheets)

extra activities Questions and extra information (2+ minutes)

Ask pupils whether they have any questions about the uniform. The information below may help to answer some of them, or simply give extra information if there’s time.

• What do the different epaulettes or trimmings mean?

Formal uniforms are all the same apart from the trimmings or epaulettes, showing our belief that everyone is equal – no one is more important than anyone else. However, there are different coloured epaulettes for officers (full-

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time ministers) and for soldiers (members - who do not work for The Salvation Army full-time). The trimmings can also show how long someone has been an officer, or what position they hold. For example, the General, who is the leader of the whole Salvation Army, has different coloured epaulettes so people will know who he or she is.

• What do the ‘S’s on the collar stand for?

The ‘S’s may stand for ‘Salvation’. Some people say they stand for ‘saved to serve’ or ‘saved to save’. Members of The Salvation Army believe they have been saved by God, and so God has called them to save and serve others.

What could it mean to be saved by God, or to save others?

• Does everyone have to wear a uniform?

Salvation Army ministers (officers) do, but only when they’re on official business, not when they’re at home or on holiday – a bit like a priests in other churches.

Members (or soldiers) usually wear a uniform for church and for some other events, but they don’t have to wear it, and many choose not to. Why do you think some members might choose not to wear a uniform? (They may want to make other people who are not members feel more welcome.) If you don’t have to wear a uniform to be a member of The Salvation Army, what other ways could you show that you are a member? (By your actions and the way you live!

Also by telling people.)

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